Social Services critic to government: Stop evictions, restore income support

The Opposition NDP is calling on the Saskatchewan government to restore income support for those who took federal pandemic aid, as well as to reinstate the moratorium on evictions.

“This government is letting people down,” Meara Conway, the NDP’s critic for social services, said Monday in a news release. “Especially as we are seeing staggering numbers of new cases, the Sask. Party needs to finally admit that this policy is literally leaving people out in the cold and putting lives at risk.”

The NDP is demanding the government restore income assistance for those who were cut off after receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB).

It also wants the Sask. Party to stop clawing back what the government considers overpayments to clients who received either benefit.

In the release, Conway said Social Services Minister Lori Carr needs to work with tenants, landlords, poverty advocacy groups and municipalities to ensure safe housing.

“This government has been several steps behind at every juncture in dealing with the pandemic,” said Conway, who added she is seeking a meeting with the minister to discuss how to protect the most vulnerable in the province.